As delegates from around the world converge in Indonesia for the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference 2011, greening the economy as well as generating decent jobs for young people now and in the future are emerging as major tests for the global economy.

As the world prepares for the Rio+20 conference in June 2012, more than 1,400 young people from 120 countries are gathering in Indonesia later this month to shape, sharpen and finalize their unique position on this once in a generation event

Bamako (Mali)/Nairobi (Kenya), 13 September 2011- Lead African Climate change negotiators and high level experts from about 50 countries are meeting in Bamako, Mali to pave the way for African ministers to consolidate Africa's common negotiating on a comprehensive international Climate Change regime beyond 2012.

As the humanitarian community works to save lives in the areas affected, the need for sustainable solutions to prevent a reoccurance of this situation in the medium and long-term is becoming increasingly apparent.

China, the largest producer and consumer of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which not only harm the ozone layer but also the climate due to their high global-warming potential, has been granted US $265 million to cut its use of these gases by 2015.

Efforts to establish international standards for measuring energy use in buildings have received a boost, after the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) decided to consider an innovative tool developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to gauge energy consumption and CO&#8322; emissions in homes and offices across the world.

Despite its late start, Angola takes a big leap forward as the UN treaty Depositary recently announced receipt of ratification documents for all the Amendments to the Montreal protocol on the protection of the Ozone layer at a go.

Wind farms in China and small-scale solar panels on rooftops in Europe were largely responsible for last year's 32% rise in green energy investments worldwide according to the latest annual report on renewable energy investment trends issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

In a message to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner says that investing in arid zone forests can fight poverty and help the transition towards a green economy.